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This is the beijing hour one hour of news and information brought to you every weekday.
Now here's your host.
Welcome you with you on this friday, december 12 2025.
You're listening to the beijing hour coming to you live from the chinese capital.
On today's program, China says its policy continuity and stable growth will provide certainty for the global economy.
Beijing again denounces Japanese Prime Minister Sonai Takeuchi's remarks suggesting so-called survival-threatening situation over the Taiwan region.
And Paris Agreement 10 years on, analysts warn that the climate goals are off track.
In business, China's fiscal and monetary policies in the year to come.
In sports, China claims the final spot in men's curling for the 2026 Winter Olympics.
In culture and entertainment, learning Chinese grows in popularity in Argentina.
Now, today's top stories.
China says the country's policy continuity and stable growth will provide certainty for the global economy, as there's a growing consensus that its prospects are positive.
A foreign ministry spokesperson made the statement when responding to the revised 2025 growth forecast for China by several major financial institutions, including the World Bank, the IMF and the Asian Development Bank.
These institutions say their upward revisions were based on China's notable economic resilience despite global headwinds.
The spokesperson said China aims to remain a key engine for global growth, inviting all countries to share in the opportunities created by its development.
This follows the conclusion of the annual Central Economic Work Conference, which outlined major tasks for the year ahead, emphasizing stronger domestic demand, a more robust domestic market and deeper opening up.
Wang Hao has more on the key meeting.
Chinese President Xi Jinping delivered an important speech at the Economic Work Conference, summarizing economic development in 2025 and laying out economic tasks for 2026.
President Xi said the main targets for economic and social development are set to be successfully achieved.
The meeting came to a new understanding on advancing economic work under new circumstances.
It is essential to fully unleash China's economic potential, combine policy support with reform and innovation, foster a dynamic environment while ensuring effective oversight, closely integrate investment in physical infrastructure with investment in human capital and build up internal strength and resilience in response to external challenges.
The meeting also identified key tasks for next year's economic development.
The first is to adhere to a domestic demand driven approach and build a strong domestic market.
China will formulate and implement plans to increase household income and expand the supply of high quality goods and services.
Second, adhere to innovation driven development and accelerate the cultivation and growth of new drivers.
China aims to strengthen the role of enterprises as the mainstay of innovation and expand the AI Plus initiative.
Third, adhere to deepening reforms and enhance the momentum and vitality for high-quality development.
China will formulate regulations for a nationally unified market and deepen the reform of state-owned assets and enterprises, as well as in capital market, investment and financing.
Fourth, adhere to opening up and promote win-win cooperation in multiple fields.
China plans to optimize the layout and scope of pilot free trade zones and promote the integrated development of trade and investment and the high-quality development of the Belt and Road Initiative.
Fifth, adhere to coordinated development and promote urban-rural integration and regional synergy.
China plans to maintain efforts to ensure food production and continue to guard against any large-scale relapse into poverty or new instances of poverty.
China will also focus on the high-quality development of the marine economy.
Sixth, adhere to dual carbon goals and promote a comprehensive green transformation.
China seeks to deepen energy saving and carbon reduction transformations in key industries, accelerate the development of new energy systems and expand the application of green electricity.
Seventh, prioritize people's livelihoods and strive to deliver more practical benefits for the people.
China aims to ensure stable employment, adjust the layout and structure of educational resources and deepen reforms in healthcare payment methods.
And eighth, firmly guard against risks and actively yet prudently resolve risks in key areas.
China will focus on stabilizing the real estate market and work to resolve local government debt risks.
The meeting calls for greater unity and resolve to achieve next year's socioeconomic targets and ensure a solid start to the 15th five-year plan.
That was Wang Hao reporting.
The Central Economic Work Conference emphasized the domestic demand-driven approach and building a strong domestic market.
For more, Tianyu spoke with Wang Yaojing, an associate professor of economics at Peking University.
So professor, what measures do you think need to work together to truly unlock China's domestic demand?
Well, the recent economic meeting prioritizes domestic demand and building a strong domestic market.
And to unlock this potential, a Synergistic policy package would focus on both the capacity and the willingness to spend.
So the core strategy involves many approaches.
First is urban and rural resident income growth that aims to boost purchasing power through higher wages and diversified income streams.
And then second, we have parallel social security enhancements in healthcare, pensions and education.
That reduces precautionary savings and increase financial security and willingness to consume.
And thirdly, we have targeted initiatives like consumption upgrades and trade-in programs for consumer goods and equipment, creating this high quality supply and stimulate specific demand.
And finally, improve the consumption environment by removing purchase restrictions and strengthening consumer rights that ensure these efforts would actually translate into actual spending.
And this creates a positive reinforcement cycle that increasing income, then strengthening safeguards, upgrading up supply and then smoothing the process.
And this is supported by proactive physical and monetary policy to stimulate investment and stabilize expectations.
Right.
So what challenges do you think China faces right now in raising household incomes in a way that can effectively boost consumption?
Well, key obstacles would include a relatively low and stubborn household consumption rate, which has been for many years.
And we have significant pressure from, like we said, from high precautionary saving due to social security concerns.
And the government has been working on that.
And there's also this structural mismatch between supply and the demand for high quality goods and services.
So there are also policies that focus on this.
And furthermore, this widening urban-rural income disparities and the need to expand the middle-income group also complicates the efforts to achieve broad-based income growth.
So a systematic approach is really needed, as we mentioned before the combining sustained resident income growth plans with deeper reforms to strengthen the social safety net.
Great.
And then, apart from that, high quality urban renewal has been named an important tool for expanding domestic demand.
So, in your view, how can urban renewal drive demand growth, and what additional economic and social benefits might it bring?
Well, high quality urban renewal is a key lever for expanding domestic demand.
It can drive growth through multiple channels.
Primarily, it directly stimulates massive and effective investment in infrastructural renovation, creating a multi-trillion yuan investment sector, and simultaneously, it creates a and upgrades diverse consumption scenarios by transforming these old spaces into cultural or commercial or community hubs and then fostering new forms of cultural tourism, digital and experiential spending.
And furthermore, by improving housing conditions and community service, like child care and elderly care, it enhances residents' consumption capacity and willingness to consume, freeing up household savings for other expenditures and boosting long-term consumer confidence.
That was Wang Yaojing, Associate Professor of Economics at Peking University.
Coming up in the hour.
Beijing has again denounced Japanese Prime Minister Sonai Takeuchi's remarks suggesting so-called survival-threatening situation over the Taiwan region.
Washington has just reversed the course again.
It's now allowing Nvidia to sell its advanced H200 AI chips to China, with a hefty 25 revenue cut flowing straight to the US government session.
A commercial calculation or the start of a new conditional export model.
Will Chinese tech giants rush to buy the H-200?
Can Washington achieve its intended goals with a policy shift?
And will this prompt other governments or exports to reconsider their own restrictions on tech exports to China?
Get all these and more on this week's Chat Lounge, wherever you get your podcasts and our CGTN radio.
11 minutes into the hour.
Beijing has again denounced Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takeuchi's remarks suggesting so-called survival-threatening situation over the Taiwan region.
It's also hit back at the Democratic Progressive Party authorities on the island for denying Japan's colonial oppression.
Zheng Yibing has more on the Chinese Foreign Ministry's response.
The question was raised on China's 12th National Memorial Day for the victims of the Nanjing Massacre, which falls on December 13th.
It is to commemorate the day in 1937 when invading Japanese troops captured Nanjing and began six weeks of slaughter that claimed the lives of more than 300000 Chinese civilians and unarmed soldiers.
Hu Zekun, a spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, confirmed the events for the Memorial Day this year.
He said the excuse of Japanese aggression to China and other Asian countries during World War II was just the so-called survival-threatening situation for Japan.
In his answer to another question on Japan's crimes, including those during Japan's colonial rule in China's Taiwan region, the spokesperson criticized Japan in bringing that excuse up again.
On the occasion of the 80th anniversary of victory in the Chinese people's war of resistance against Japanese aggression and the world anti-fascist war.
The Japanese leader's invocation of a so-called survival-threatening situation over the Taiwan question is a challenge to human conscience and international justice.
It is bound to provoke strong indignation among all Chinese people and the international community.
The Taiwan independent separatists who betray their ancestors and forget their roots will likewise face the people's contempt and the judgment of history.
The spokesperson also criticized the Democratic Progressive Party authorities in Taiwan in ignoring the crimes that Japan committed during its 50-year colonial rule in Taiwan, including the fact that some one-fifth of Taiwan residents during the period were brutally killed.
And mineral resources like coal and gold were exploited.
And more than half of rice production on the island were transported to Japan, leaving local people starving.
Some 200,000 Taiwanese youths were forced to join the Japanese military.
And more than 2,000 Taiwanese women were forced to become conflict women.
The spokesperson slammed the DPP authorities in totally ignoring the history and acting as accomplices and chess pieces for the attempt in Japan to revive the Japanese militarism.
It called their acts despicable and a betrayal of the nation.
That was Zheng Yibing reporting.
International figures say Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takeuchi's remarks on China's Taiwan region risk heightening regional tensions.
Russian Security Council Secretary, Sergei Shoigu, warned that her rhetoric echoes troubling signs of revived militarism and could further undermine regional peace.
JAPAN'S PROVOCATIONS HAVE BECOME ALMOST CONTINUOUS.
IN A RELATIVELY SHORT PERIOD OF TIME, THE COUNTRY HAS TRANSFORMED FROM ONE WITHOUT THE RIGHT TO MAINTAIN ARMED FORCES INTO WHAT WE SEE TODAY.
PRIME MINISTER TAKAICHI NOW CALLS FOR RAISING DEFENSE SPENDING TO 2% OF GDP.
NATO SET THAT TARGET BEFORE DONALD TRUMP RETURNED TO OFFICE AND HAS ALREADY MOVED TOWARD 5%.
JAPAN IS CLEARLY MOVING IN THAT DIRECTION.
And we cannot ignore the emergence of new weapons, particularly those left behind after US-Japan joint drills.
It's been nearly a century since Imperial Japan forced women into sexual slavery.
Historical records have confirmed that over 2100 so-called comfort stations across China were part of Japan's wartime system in the 1930s and 40s.
Professor Su Zhilian is the first Chinese scholar to spend over three decades studying this system.
Biran spoke to him to shed light on those brutal crimes and the lasting reflections on this dark chapter of history.
On the campus of Shanghai Normal University stands a brown statue of two young girls eyes resolute, fists clenched.
The comfort women statues for peace depicting a Chinese and a Korean girl honors more than 400000 victims from 11 Asian countries and regions who were forced into sexual slavery by Japanese troops during World War II.
Professor Su Zhiliang, the first Chinese scholar to study this atrocity in depth, recounts the tears, blood and harsh historical truth behind the comfort women tragedy.
In 1992, while conducting research at the University of Tokyo, I learned about the comfort women issue and witnessed some of the earliest survivor protests.
When I realized that the first comfort station might have been in Shanghai, I felt that, as a Chinese scholar, I could not stay on the sidelines.
Since 1993, Professor Su has devoted over 30 years to uncovering the truth.
In 1999, he founded Shanghai Normal University's Chinese Center for Comfort Women Research.
Together with his wife, Professor Chen Lifei, he traveled across China, identifying more than 300 survivors and authenticating diaries, letters and local archives.
Evidence that clearly documents the abuses and the Japanese military's direct involvement.
In August 1945, as Japan faced defeat, the military destroyed evidence from top to bottom.
Much was lost.
Since the 1990s, we have searched for survivors one by one.
Many victims of such brutal sexual violence could not speak even at the end of their lives.
In China, we identified 358 survivors, and 24 of them went to Tokyo to sue Japan.
They lost the case, but the courts nonetheless acknowledged their victimhood.
We can never see the entire iceberg.
Only the tip is visible.
But even that small part is terrifying.
Japan is moving backward.
In the mid-1990s, Japanese history textbooks were at their most honest, acknowledging wartime wrongdoing.
At the same time, the current Japanese Prime Minister, Sanai Takaichi, who was then a lawmaker, began to speak for the rising right-wing movement.
She challenged then Prime Minister Tamichi Murayama on why, in his capacity as Prime Minister, admitted on behalf of Japan that the war of aggression was wrong.
Their persistent rhetoric forced history textbooks to retreat step by step.
Today, only a handful still mention the atrocities.
So Japan's younger generation grows up unclear about the past, without the knowledge needed for reflection.
Japan is dissolving its historical memory, trying to reinvent itself as a normal country.
That is frightening.
As Professor Su noted, this history must be exposed.
Chinese scholars have a duty to uncover the facts, helping both the Chinese public and international community understand the truth of this dark chapter.
That was Bi Ran reporting.
Turning to Hong Kong, more than 600 animals are estimated to have been affected from the devastating residential fire in the city.
Welfare groups have been searching and caring for the affected animals.
Huang Fei has more.
Slowly but steadily, these animal survivors are making their way toward recovery.
They're among hundreds rescued just in time.
Thanks to the rapid response of emergency crews at Wong Fu Court, Dr Fiona Woodhouse witnessed the massive effort not just to save human lives, but their beloved pets as well.
I did an overnight shift when they were doing one of the searches still under fire services.
And you can see the torches going around at 30 floors and they were still bringing out, you know, animals deceased or alive for reuniting.
And the effort that they're doing.
You know hiking up and down the stairs.
You know dealing with frightened animals.
You know some of the firefighters and the investigation teams were bitten by scared cats but still they're trying to rescue them safely, to bring them back.
So, you know, that sort of commitment was really impressive.
After firefighters completed the initial search, the Hong Kong police, more specifically the Disaster Victim Identification Unit, sent more than 100 officers hoping to find more surviving pets.
And on December 4th, roughly a week after the fire, they did find more than 150 pets, including 72 still alive.
The tireless search efforts helped this man reunite with his cat, adopted from this very organization eight years ago.
We understand very deeply how important these animals are for the owners.
They are like their children.
Even if it's sad news, closure is very important to them.
At least 84 animals are still unaccounted for, two weeks after the deadly fire.
Marsha Chun is still working hard to help as many of them as possible.
What we have been still requesting the authorities to support is to place food, water and cat traps in these buildings.
It will give the last chance for the surviving animals if there are still any to be fed and maybe to be rescued.
This is the last hope that many owners want to achieve.
Most of the rescued animals are now back with their families or receiving care under various welfare organizations across Hong Kong.
And the work continues because hope is shared and every life matters.
That was Huang Fei reporting.
You're listening to The Beijing Hour.
Coming up, Paris Agreement 10 years on.
Analysts warn that the climate goals are off track.
21 into the hour.
Friday marks the 10th anniversary of the adoption of the Paris Agreement, a landmark UN climate change deal.
Leaders of UN members gathered in the French capital 10 years ago to forge a global attempt to curb climate change.
Most countries vow to deliver on their commitments.
But 10 years on, temperatures have continued to rise.
Analysts are warning that the goals are off track.
Sarah Coates has more on how far humanity still has to go to save itself and the planet.
In 2015, nearly every country on Earth pledged to keep global warming well below 2 degrees Celsius, aiming for 15.
It was hailed as a turning point, a global commitment to act before it was too late.
But a decade later, the numbers tell a different story.
We have seen that the temperature has continued to rise. extreme events continue to also to happens.
So yes, it's indeed very crucial.
Scientists warn that the world is already on track for warming of nearly three degrees by the end of the century, far beyond the Paris target.
We are on the road about three, three something degree.
Really, if you don't go up to upper than two degree, the decrease of emission is to to be more effective.
And so it has to start now because every kind of decision takes years to be implemented, etc.
Camille Etienne is a French climate activist.
She tells us many countries have fallen behind on their climate targets and some have even reversed course, citing economic pressures, energy crises or political shifts.
We are living in a moment of ecological backlash, especially in the US, but it's happening everywhere then, across the globe, where we have people that do not believe in climate change that are now in power.
But among the public, awareness and concern remain high.
When you speak with people, politicians and decision makers, they are all convinced we have to do something, and fast.
Science tells us that we are late on what was promised in Paris 10 years ago meaning, as it stands, it's impossible to respect the agreement.
So now the next objective is to 16, and then 17, and we really need to keep this below what we can, because it's literally life that will be threatened.
That was a report on the 10th anniversary of the adoption of the Paris Agreement, the landmark UN climate change deal.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Kiev has presented the US with an updated version of the peace plan proposed by Washington.
Apart from the 20-point plan, the framework outlines security guarantees and an agreement on rebuilding Ukraine.
Audrey McAlpine reports from Kiev know that the current plan has been reduced from the original 28 points that was introduced several weeks ago now down to 20 points.
Also, the ukrainian president, vladimir zelensky, posting in an address on x saying, in addition to this 20-point plan, that there are also two additional documents one, an economic document, which outlines Ukraine's recovery post-war and reconstruction, and investment.
He says that Ukraine and the United States are fully aligned on this particular document.
Then also a second document outlining security guarantees.
It's worth reiterating that this is an extremely complex process now, with several documents in rotation and, as UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said earlier this week, that negotiations now are at a critical point.
Time and time again, the United Kingdom and France have pledged that in the event of a ceasefire, that they would be willing to put At the same time, we will continue to support Ukraine massively.
We will continue to provide massive support to Ukraine.
Above all, we want to use the immobilized Russian assets in Europe to enable Ukraine to protect itself effectively against future Russian attacks.
It's worth noting that there are still many legal hurdles involved in European countries using these Russian frozen assets.
That will come up for a vote later this month.
Namely the hurdles will be the countries Hungary and Belgium itself who are against it fearing, in the case of Belgium, that they will be liable for that in the future event of any of the war coming to a close and perhaps Russia coming back and wanting these assets returned to it.
That was Audrey McCampine reporting.
Russian Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov, says Moscow has never rejected negotiations aimed at resolving the Ukraine conflict through political and diplomatic means.
Dasha Chernyshova reports from Moscow.
Russian Foreign Minister has been addressing foreign ambassadors in Moscow and he said that Russia and the United States have resolved all the miscommunications and misunderstandings during the recent round of talks between the Russian president and US envoy Steve Whitcomb at the Kremlin about 10 days ago.
And Russia has, according to Sergey Lavrov, made the proposals of its own regarding the settlement in Ukraine, which are much wider than Ukraine itself.
Those are the proposals regarding security guarantees that will be provided to all of the members of this conflict, as well as powers in the region, to Ukraine, to Russia, to Europe as well.
And the Russian foreign minister has been saying that this is exactly the way that we should be moving forward.
Those security guarantees would provide the lasting peace for this conflict.
The Russian foreign minister has stressed that what the European countries are now seeking to achieve is just the ceasefire, but that is not quite acceptable to Moscow.
Here is what he said.
We insist on reaching a package of agreements for a strong, sustainable and long-term peace with security guarantees for all parties involved, and our negotiations with the US President and his team are dedicated precisely to finding a long-term solution to address the root causes of this crisis.
Lavrov reiterated that the Europeans are now trying to get squeezed to the negotiations and all of the proposals that they are making.
They are not going to be accepted by Moscow for one simple reason they do not correspond to the Atlassian peace.
They would be encouraging ukraine to continue the fighting.
So moscow is now saying that it is negotiating only with the united states regarding that peace prospect in ukraine and obviously russia is stressing that the new american administration of us president donald trump has better understanding of the root causes of this conflict and it does seem to moscow that they are willing to eliminate those that would certainly be serving russia's interests and be providing for the guarantees of lasting peace on the continent.
That was Dasha Chernyshova reporting.
And let's check the weather before break.
Beijing will see moderate snow with a low of minus five on Friday evening.
Saturday will be cloudy with a high of zero.
Hohot will see heavy snow with a low of minus 14 tonight.
Tomorrow, sunny with a high of minus seven.
Elsewhere in Asia, Islamabad will be overcast with a low of 10 this evening.
And in Africa, Nairobi will have light rain with a high of 26 on Saturday.
And it's time for a short break so far this hour.
China says its policy continuity and stable growth will provide certainty for the global economy.
Dou Hongyu with you.
Stay with us here on The Beijing Hour.
Listen up.
Can you hear the heartbeat of our world?
It's vibrant and pulsating with the essence of life itself.
From the stem of trees to the gurgle of rivers.
From the silent strength of mountains to the icy whispers of glaciers.
Even the solid ground beneath our feet.
And right there, in the midst of all, beats the heart of humanity.
What if those other heartbeats were to stop?
Would ours keep on ticking?
Every week to find out what's real with China Africa Talk.
Find us on your favorite podcast.
We'll see you there.
Examining the events that impact and shape China and the rest of the world.
This is the Beijing Hour, one hour of news and information brought to you every weekday.
Now here's your host.
Dou Hongyu with you on this Friday.
Still to come, in business, China's fiscal and monetary policies in the year to come.
In sports, China claims the final spot in men's curling for the 2026 Winter Olympics.
In culture and entertainment, learning Chinese grows in popularity in Argentina.
To contact us, you can email radio at cgtn.com or follow our X account at cgtnradio.
Now first checking today's headlines, here's Tianyu.
Thank you, Hongyu.
Chinese authorities have said the country will continue to be a major driver for global growth, and other countries are welcome to share opportunities due to China's fast development and its vast market.
A Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson was commenting on the moves by multiple international institutions to raise their forecasts for China's economic growth this year.
The spokesperson said, the recent Central Economic Work Conference charts the course for China's economic development and it provides innovation-based growth drivers and a list of opportunities for global growth.
The spokesperson said the steady growth of China's new quality productive forces and the smart and green development of his manufacturing industry will contribute to global innovation-based cooperation and sustainable development.
The Hong Kong chief executive had said the investigation report on the recent residential complex fire will be completed within nine months.
Zhang Li appointed Justice David Locke and two others to form an independent commission.
The Commission will investigate the fire's cause and examine whether related renovation projects have reached loss.
The fire, which broke out on November 26 in Taipo, has left 160 people dead.
Six others remain unaccounted for.
About 30 Chinese and German experts have gathered at this year's China-Germany Human Rights Development Forum to discuss aligning international development cooperation with humanitarian assistance amid rising global challenges.
Participants have called for true multilateralism and for solutions that address the root causes of crises.
They stress that development is key to stronger global human rights governance.
Li Hongkui is the secretary-general of the China Foundation for Human Rights Development, one of the forum's organizers.
He called on the two countries to shoulder greater responsibilities.
The U.S.
2025 Sustainable Development Goals report shows that 800 million people still live in extreme poverty and billions lack safe drinking water and sanitation.
The world urgently needs collective action.
As major global economies, China and Germany must shoulder greater responsibilities.
Former German Justice Minister Hertha Dobler-Gemmeli said, the two countries have strong cooperation potential in this regard.
Humanitarian aid and development cooperation are two pillars of global solidarity.
Development assistance strengthens resilience and capacity in recipient countries.
China and Germany, as well as China and the EU, have strong cooperation potential, with rich histories and growing international responsibilities.
The China Foundation for Human Rights Development and the Frederick Albert Foundation launched the forum in 1999.
Japan has lifted a tsunami advisory after a magnitude 67 earthquake jolted the country's northeastern region of Hokkaido.
The quake struck before noon on Friday at a depth of 20 kilometers.
The tremor followed a magnitude 75 earthquake in the same region on Monday, which injured at least 34 people and caused light damage.
Japan issued a special alert after Monday's quake for residents from Hokkaido in the north to Chiba to brace for more tremors within the week.
UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, has again expressed concern about the escalating tensions between the US and Venezuela.
His spokesperson says the UN calls on all actors to refrain from actions that could further escalate bilateral tensions and destabilize Venezuela and the region.
The UN is urging all parties to honor their obligations under the UN Charter and international law.
And finally, the United Nations says violence in South Kivu in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has surged, forcing more than 200000 people to flee since early this month.
A UN spokesperson says the secretary-general is calling for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire.
The secretary-general strongly condemns the offensive by the AFC M23 in several locations in South Kivu Province, including Kamaniola Luwungi, Katakota and Uvira, which has resulted in civilian casualties.
He calls for an immediate and unconditional cessation of hostilities, in line with Security Council Resolution 2773.
He underscores that this escalation risks seriously undermining efforts to achieve a sustainable resolution of the crisis and increases the risk of a broader regional conflagration.
The humanitarian needs are rising quickly.
Thank you.
And that was Tianyu.
With headlines coming up in business, China's fiscal and monetary policies in the year to come.
The Beijing Hour, your window on China and the rest of the world.
36 into the hour turning to business.
Stock markets on the Chinese mainland closed higher on Friday.
The Shanghai composite was up over 0.4%.
The Shenzhen component gained almost 08.
Forestry and power supply equipment shares were among the top gainers.
The Hong Kong stock also ended higher.
The Henshin Index gained over 1.7%.
In Japan, the Nikkei increased nearly 1.4%.
China will maintain a more proactive fiscal policy alongside a moderately accommodative monetary policy in the coming year, as outlined in a statement released following the Central Economic Work Conference.
According to the statement, monetary policy formulation must balance the dual objectives of fostering stable economic growth and allowing for reasonable price increases.
The statement also says it's essential to flexibly and efficiently use various policy tools to maintain ample liquidity and guide financial institutions to strengthen support for technological innovation and small and medium-sized enterprises.
For more.
Zhou Fang spoke with Shi Fanqi, Associate Professor of School of Economics at Peking University.
Professor, thank you for joining us.
What signals do you think the statement sends for China's monetary policy in 2026?
I think there are three clear signals that sent in the statement.
The first one is that the monetary policy will likely to have an expansionary bias, with price flexibility.
Basically, the central government is admitting that we are facing deflationary pressure and that growth is the key challenge.
The second message is that basically it's the same thing.
It's basically saying inflation is no longer treated as a constraint, but the central government is still exercising caution about overshooting, particularly given the high property-related costs.
The second aspect is basically the central government is saying that they want to be flexible in using tools and not to use blunt stimulus.
So notice this is a key difference in the wording from last year.
So from last year.
Basically, the syndrome is saying that for the monetary policy they're likely to be timely cuts.
But this year is saying that is to flexibly and efficiently use tools.
So that means that those kind of especially in terms of the fiscal support is likely to be targeted and calibrated.
And that also means and specifically that's mentioned in statement that the targeted support are likely to be for technological innovation and small and medium enterprises.
And the third aspect I guess is a continuation from last year's policy and saying that it's likely to be coordination between monetary and fiscal policy.
We know balancing, stabilizing growth and preventing risks is a crucial challenge.
In the face of risks in specific sectors.
What targeted measures can be taken to ensure stable economic growth while preventing systemic financial risks, specifically for the property sector instability?
So there can be some kind of market-oriented restructuring.
And also probably the government is providing some buyer support in the property sector.
Second target measure is, I think it is crucial to strengthen debt transparency.
The third key aspect is to avoid deflationary trap. with calibrated support.
And some of them is a continuation of the policy this year to provide some kind of targeted consumption incentives.
And the fourth aspect is probably, there can be macro potential and liquidity tools to provide to the major banks.
And also, as mentioned, for the SMEs.
There can be ample liquidity supported, but there should also be some credit guidance to avoid a lot of speculative measures.
That was Associate Professor Xu Fanqi and Peking University, talking about China's monetary policy in 2026.
China has launched another bumper grain harvest this year, with the total output reaching a record 715 million metric tons.
According to the National Bureau of Statistics, that's up over 1% from a year ago.
Grain production has now held above the 700 million ton mark for a second straight year.
The increase comes despite only a 01 expansion in planting area nationwide, suggesting steady gains in agricultural efficiency.
Henan is one of China's most populous provinces and the country's breadbasket.
From experimental fields to cutting-edge lamps, researchers in the central province are using seed innovation to safeguard the nation's food supply.
Xia Rixue reports.
At first glance, the work seems simple, even ordinary.
In an experimental field in central China's Henan province, Professor Ru Zhenggang and his students plant weseeds by hand, row by row, ridge by ridge.
For more than four decades, Ru has treated plots like this as living laboratories where new weed varieties are tested, selected and refined.
A seed must be tested in real natural conditions under both favorable and challenging environments.
Only if it performs well can it be considered a truly good variety.
In the last five years, his team introduced varieties such as Bainong 4199 and Cheng'an 211, known for their high yields, rich flavor and resistance to both disease and lodging.
Our country places great importance on the development of the seed industry.
With strong support for seed work variety, innovation and the promotion of new varieties.
This has played a crucial role in driving progress.
At the National Bio-Breeding Industry Innovation Center in Xinxiang.
Young researchers move with purpose among state-of-the-art workstations.
High-tech plant seed scanners capture every detail of a seed, from wheat furrows and embryo shapes to peanut shell textures, in seconds.
The data is instantly fed to an AI system that analyzes and classifies thousands of samples every day.
We have 33 solar greenhouses dedicated to year-round breeding of high-end vegetable varieties and a 2400 square meter intelligent greenhouse that enables experiments to run throughout the year.
Today, over 95% of China's crop varieties are independently bred.
The country has completed a nationwide survey of its agricultural germ plasm.
Preserving 580000 crop samples, 14 million livestock and poultry samples and 140000 aquatic species, the largest collection of its kind in the world.
This living library safeguards the future of food.
During a field research in Henan, I found that domestically produced strong gluten wheat can now meet around 70 more than two-thirds of domestic demand nearly double the level seen in previous years.
Looking ahead, Professor Ru Zhenggang and his team aim to unlock more functional genes from traditional Chinese wheat, preserving genetic heritage while boosting modern performance.
That was Xia Ruixue reporting from Xinjiang, Henan Province.
Hong Kong has reclaimed the top spot in global IPO market rankings for the first time this year since 2019.
Global professional services firm KPMG says Hong Kong funds raised from initial public offerings tripled from a year ago to over HK272 billion this year.
Half of the funds raised were from companies that maintain a dual listing on both the mainland's A share and Hong Kong's H share markets.
A record number of 17 A plus H listings are completed in 2025.
With a backlog of 92 dual listing applications, Hong Kong is likely to maintain its IPO momentum into next year.
The US46 billion listing of the world's largest EV battery maker.
China's CATL in May was the world's largest IPO in 2025.
China has sent a group of low-Earth orbit satellites for Internet services into space using the Long March-12 carrier rocket.
The launch took place at the Hainan Commercial Spacecraft Launch Site in southern China.
The satellites entered their predetermined orbits smoothly, marking the complete success of the launch mission.
The Long March 12 rocket is the backbone of China's commercial rockets.
It's intended to enhance the country's space access capabilities and meet future satellite networking requirements.
You're listening to the Beijing Hour.
Coming up in sports, China claims the final spot in men's curling for the 2026 Winter Olympics.
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46 into the hour, turning to sports.
Here's Yang Guang.
Thank you, Hongyu.
We start with curling at an Olympic qualifying event in Canada.
China's men's team claimed the final spot for the 2026 Milano-Kutina Winter Games with a 9-4 win over Japan in the last chance playoff.
China came out sharp, jumping the head 2-0, thanks to a clean double takeout from a vice-geep, Fei Xueqin.
Japan answered in the third, but inconsistency hurt them, including a costly miss in the fifth.
Skipper Xu Xiaomin, chasing a third Olympic appearance, delivered clutch, draws throughout, building a steady lead and a ceilinged match with a flawless final shot for four.
With both men's and women's teams now qualified, China shifts focus to mixed doubles on Sunday.
In skiing, China's two-time Olympic champion, Gu Ailin, cruised into the women's halfpipe final at the Chunli stop of the Frisky World Cup, capping a strong day for the host nation.
26 skiers took part and China's five-member squad made its presence felt early.
Gu opened with an 86.5 to sit second, while Li Fanhui surged in to the lead with an 88.25.
Gu then stepped it up on round two, posting the day's top score of 92.75 to advance with ease.
Gu says the return to Chongli feels both familiar and motivating.
I feel pretty good this time.
The last time I competed here was already a year ago, so it's been a while and I'm happy to be back.
In terms of handling the pressure.
I think I did a good job, because I've won here four years in a row, and even winning once is already very hard.
Every year it gets more difficult to take the title, but I'm still able to keep challenging myself and face that new pressure head on.
Li finished third and Zhang Kexin fifth, sending all three into Saturday's final.
At the World Table Tennis Finals in Hong Kong, top seed Sun Yingsha eased through her opening match with dominant straight games over compatriot Wang Yidi.
Sun controlled pace from the first rally, staying steady during Wang's brief surge in the second game and finishing the match with her trademark sharp serves and quick-fire attacks.
She now moves on to face Japan's Miyu Nagasaki in the quarterfinals.
China also enjoyed success on the other table, where Kwai Man delivered a composed, aggressive performance to sweep Japan's Hina Hayata.
Kwai stays in the hunt for the title and will meet Japan's Satsuki Odo next.
On the men's side, second seed Lin Shidong advanced to the quarterfinals with commanding win over compatriot Liang Jingkun.
Lin took control early, forcing mistakes and steadily pulling away through sharp backhands and precise shot placements.
Reflecting on his performance, Lin credited careful focus and strategy.
It's normal to have some key points in the first game and it felt amazing to control them.
I trailed for most of the time in the game, down 8 to 10, so it was not easy to turn it around.
I think I focused really hard on every single point during the match.
I played carefully and stayed firm on my execution.
Meanwhile, Xiang Peng battled past South Korea's An Ji-huan in a thrilling six-game match, using powerful smashes and precise backhands to prevail.
Xiang will now face Lin in the quarter-finals, setting up an all-Chinese clash for a place in the semis.
In basketball, Alperin Shingun and Armand Thompson led a fourth-quarter surge that lifted Houston Rockets to a 115-113 win over the visiting LA Clippers.
Thompson's late three-point play broke a tie while Shingun added key baskets down the stretch.
Houston erased a small deficit entering the fourth, surviving a chaotic final sequence to earn their sixth win in eight games.
For Los Angeles, Kawhi Leonard shone with 24 points and five steals, and Ivica Zubac dominated inside with 33 points, but the Clippers struggled on the boards.
Elsewhere, Kyle Kuzma scored a season-high 31 points as the Milwaukee Bucks beat Boston Celtics 116-101 and the New Orleans Pelicans snapped a seven-game losing streak with a 143-120 win over the Portland Trailblazers.
And finally, football supporters Europe, an umbrella group representing fan organizations across the continent, has called on FIFA to halt sales of national team tickets for next year's World Cup, criticizing the governing body for what it calls extortionate prices that could shut ordinary fans out.
Tickets distributed through national associations are reportedly set at nearly 7000 for a full round to the final.
That's almost five times the 2022 cost, and the family packages will potentially reach $30,000.
FSE says lower-priced tickets will be largely unavailable to loyal supporters.
The group urged FIFA to pause allocations and consult with fans to protect the tournament's tradition and atmosphere.
From north to south, east to west, people in China are chasing their dreams and leaving their mark.
Want to know how they beat the odds and made a difference?
Footprints brings you the true life stories of their journeys.
52 into the hour turning to culture and entertainment.
Foreign students from across the globe are showing growing enthusiasm for learning Chinese.
And this year marks a first.
A student from Argentina has made it all the way to the final round of the Chinese Bridge Competition, often dubbed the Olympics of Chinese language and culture.
It's a milestone that highlights just how far the language's global appeal has spread.
Joe Richards has more.
Barely two years ago, Luciano Garcia Zarate hardly spoke a word of Mandarin.
This August, he represented Argentina at the Chinese Bridge Language Competition that brings over 150 students from around the world to compete.
His trademark is performing classic tongue twisters.
Luciano was the first Argentine to ever reach the final stages of the competition.
He won a scholarship to study and now has his sights set on building a career closely linked with China.
My goal for 2026 is to use the scholarship I won with Chinese Bridge Competition in China, which is to study Chinese for a year.
After finishing that year, I want to get another four-year scholarship to study for a degree in China.
That is definitely my ultimate goal.
Luciano's story is exceptional, but it reflects a noticeable shift in this country.
The number of Argentines who are studying Mandarin is on the rise.
It's partly explained by China's growing presence in this country and in the region, from trade and investment to an increased corporate presence.
And to meet that demand in learning the language, there are more institutions and more courses available and there are even primary and secondary schools now teaching the language.
For 20 years, the Chinese Cultural Association has promoted Chinese culture and language.
They say it's no longer a niche interest.
These days, we are seeing people who work in different fields, from those in foreign trade to institutional relations.
We are seeing more young professionals who want to boost their resume.
China is one of Argentina's top trading partners.
There is now a direct flight between Shanghai and Buenos Aires.
Many younger Argentines see learning Mandarin as an opportunity.
I started studying it before even thinking about work.
I began learning Mandarin when I was younger.
I thought of it more as a hobby since I like the language and I like the culture.
But they always say languages open doors and I imagine that speaking Mandarin could open a lot of doors, because there's so many people in the world who speak Mandarin.
Mastering the Chinese language can take years, but from competitions to classrooms, Argentines now see it as more than just a hobby, but also a stepping stone in their careers.
That was Joel Richards reporting from Buenos Aires.
Egyptian audiences are giving high marks to the Chinese films showcased at the ongoing China Film Week in Cairo, an event aimed at boosting cultural and cinematic ties between the two countries.
Six Chinese titles are on screen, offering everything from historical drama to animation, and giving viewers a vivid look at modern Chinese storytelling.
Organizers say the event is about much more than movies.
Director Ahmed Saleh explains.
In recent decades, the development of Chinese cinema has been remarkable, evolving from a domestic industry to a global force with far-reaching influence.
The China Film Week is not just a cinematic event.
Rather, it is an extension of the deep-rooted cultural ties between Egypt and China and a genuine opportunity to explore a society rich in history, arts and humanistic vision.
The film week runs through Saturday and continues to draw strong local interest.
It's 56 into the hour.
Let's check the weather.
Beijing will see moderate snow with a low of minus five on Friday evening.
Saturday will be cloudy with a high of zero.
Hohhot will see heavy snow with a low of minus 14 tonight.
Tomorrow, sunny with a high of minus seven.
Nanchang will see light rain tonight and tomorrow with a low of 8 and a high of 11.
Elsewhere in Asia, Islamabad will be overcast with a low of 10 this evening.
Saturday will be overcast with a high of 20.
Vientiane will see light rain tonight and tomorrow with a low of 20 and a high of 28.
Phnom Penh will see light rain with a low of 22 tonight, tomorrow overcast with a high of 31.
In Africa, Nairobi will have light rain with a high of 26 on Saturday.
Kampala will see light rain tonight and tomorrow with a low of 18 and a high of 26.
Finally Toshiania, Port Vila, will see light rain tonight and tomorrow, with a low of 23 and a high of 30.
That's it for this edition of the Beijing Hour.
Making news today.
China says its policy continuity and stable growth will provide certainty for the global economy.
On behalf of the staff.
This is Dou Hongyu in the Chinese capital, hoping you'll join us for the next edition of the Beijing Hour and open a window to the world together.
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He can't live without the Yellow River in his eyes.
The Yellow River is so noble and elegant.
Both my grandpa and dad made a living from the river.
Would you like to move away from the Yellow River?
I don't think I will.
I love it so much.
The Yellow River, the second longest river in China, is regarded as a shaping force in the history, economy and culture of northern China.
Today, about 100 million people live within its water basin, making up nearly 9 of the country's population.
How is climate change felt at its headwaters?
And what are the locals doing to cope with it?
What are the descendants of the boatmen doing?
What has kept some people from leaving their home village by the river?
And what has drawn others back?
Could the fading fishing community revive in a time of digital transformation?
From 2021 to 2024.
Our reporters visited the upper, middle and lower reaches of the Yellow River, talk to the herders farmers boatmen, fishermen and eco-activists who share a close bond with the river, and present their stories in pictures, podcasts and videos, all in our 12-part series, the yellow river mosaic, available only on cgtn radio.
